Fish grapple



April 1o, 1928.

INVENTOR A TTORNEY'.

A. E. GLESSALE FISH GRAPPLE Filed A1192. 11. 1926 yopen the jaws into a Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNiiED sTArEs PATENT ALBERT n. GLEssALn, or sYRAcUsE, fiviiw Yoan.

msi-:i GRAPPLE.

Application filed August 11, 192e. sei-iai' No. 125,585.

This invention has for its object a fish 'grapple which is particularly simple and Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section,-

of a lish grapple embodying my invention.

lFigure 2 is a side elevation thereof looking tothe left in Figure-1.

Figure 3 is ay fragmentary plan view parts being broken away looking downwardly in Figure 1. Y

This fish grapple comprises, generally, a shank, a carrier movable lengthwise of the shank, a pair of jaws pivoted to the shank, the jaws and the shank having' coacting surfaces arranged to close the jaws when the carrier is moved in one direction as in wardly, a spring for moving thecarrier inwardly' and `thus effecting the closing of the jaws, a latch normally arranged to hold the jaws 'open against the inliuence of the spring tending to close them, the` latch being arranged to be tripped by an object as alish between the jaws, resetting springs acting on the jaws and a manually operable resetting member-acting on the carrier to move it against the action of the spring and thus position to be reengaged by the latch. f

The shank 1 is here shown as tubular in general form and having a handle 2 at one end.

3 is the carrier or slide movable in the tubular shank 1.

4c are the jaws which are pivoted at 5 to the carrier 3, these jaws being arcuate ,informv or curved to conform to the contour of a. fish, the jaws are provided with suitable prongs 6.

7 designates the spring located within the shank 1 and connected atone end as 8 thereto and at its other end at 9 to the inner end of the carrier 3, the spring being tensioned to pull the carrier 3 downwardly when un'- restra-ined from downward movement. y

10 is the latching means coacting with the jaws 4 to hold them inv their'open position against the tendency of the'spring'7 to close the jaws. This latching means 10 is shown as a cross arm 'coacting at its ends with shoulders 11 on'the jaws said cross arm being carried by the free end of a` spring arm 12 fixed at its other end at 13 to the shank, this' latch being movable laterally` relatively to the direction of movement of the jaws out of engagement Vwith the jaws when an engaging end or inclined surface 14 thereof engages a fish or other object between the jaws 4'.

16 are the resetting lsprings acting onl the jaws 4, these springs being connected at like ends to ears on the shank and at their'other ends to the jaws respectively.

17 is the resetting member as a lever pivoted at 18'to suitable lugs on the shank 1 andv having arms 19 arranged astride the shank `l to coact with shoulders 20 on the carrier 3. Obviously, movement ofthe lever 17 from' its positionv shown in Figure 2 will cause the arms 19 to engage rthe shoulders 20`on the carrier 3- when the jawsv 4 are closed, and move the shoulders upwardly into the posi-y tion shown in Figure 2 until the latch 10 engages the open jaws l and holds them in their open position. As here shown, the

orifice.

shoulders 2O are diametrically opposite pins on' thel carrier 3 or the opposite ends of a double pin or` rod, which pin extends through lengthwise slots 21 in the shank 1.

-The closing movement of the jaws lduring the inward movement of the lcarrier 3 is effected by coacting means on the jaws and on the shank 1. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, this means yconsists of cam surfaces 22 provided on inclined arms 23 at the inner ends of the jaws 4, and these Y arms 23 extend into lengthwise slots 24 which open through the end of the shank 1.y

The inclined surfaces 22 of the arms 23 engage the end walls of the slots 24 and hence during the inward movement of the carrier 3 by the spring 7, the jaws 4 are cammed.

or forced to swing inwardly about thepivot 5 as the carrier 3 moves under the influence of the spring 7. When'the jaws are closed ico on the fish' the arms 23 are well within the l shank and the portions of vthe jaws'neXt to the arms 23 overlie the end walls ofk the slots 24 and lock the jaws closed `or` from being opened by force applied to thejaws". Hence thrashings of the -fish cannot open the jaws. They setting lever.

`Theresetting lever 17 isv provided with a suitable spring 25 which holds it along side can be opened "only by the rej used, he takes the shank 1 after the carrier 3` has been moved `siiliicientlyto latch the jaws 4 in engagement with the latch 10.`

ln operation, when the angler draws the iish up along side ot the boat, dock or other location where a net would ordinarily be the grapple, which is set in open position, and reaches lor the with the jaws embracing the lish. vWhen the sur! acelll of the latch l() engages the lish, the

latch is forced laterally ontof engagement with the jaws 4: or the shoulders 11 thereo'lfv j so that the spring 7 is tree to react andpiill the carrier 3 inwardly and close the jaws violently on the landed the jaws are opened and reset by pulling von the .resetting lever 17 thus releasing the lish and resetting the device for the next lish. The movement of the lever 17 causes the arms 19 thereof to push the pinsQO and hence the carrier 3 upwardly or` outwardly inthe shank 1 thus carrying the jaws l upwardly therewith. `During such upward movement the springs 16 spread the jaws until they are engaged by the latch 10.

This fish grapple is particularly advantai geous in that `it is particularly simple in i construction and consists ot a minimum number of compactly arranged parts, and although this device is called herein a fish grapple obviously it is vusable or adaptable :tor any kind of grab hook work as 'for tak-` ing hold ot boxes, bales, bundles, etc., `to

` iinJ them. j l

What I claim is;` i i 1. A fish grapple comprising a shank having a lengthwise passage therein, a carrier slidable lengthwise ot the shank within the passage, a pair of jaws pivoted to the carrier, the jaws being formed with arms at the pivoted ends `of `the jaws and arranged at an` angle to` the contiguous portions of the jaws for coacting with end surfaces on the shank to close the jaws when the carrier moves inwardly lengthwise ot the shank,

spring for causing the carrier to make such i movement, latching means for normally holding the jaws romclosing movement by the spring, said latching means having a trip associated therewith and a resetting member comprising a lever pivotedto the` shank and arranged to coactwith the carrier to move it inwardly lengthwise of the shank.

lish.` When the iish, is

and open the jaws into a position to be engaged by the latch means. Y 1

3. A fish grapple comprisinga shank, a`

carrier movable lengthwise of the shank, a pair of jaws pivoted to the carrier, thejaws and the shank having coacting means acting to close the jaws when the carrier moves lengthwise `ol the shank in one direction, a spring for causing the carrier to make such j movement, latcliing means fornormally holdi ing thejaws from closing movement by the spring, said latching.meanshajving a trip as,- i

sociated therewith arranged to be operated by an object as a fish between the open jaws, the carrier having a shoulder on the' outside oi" the shank and a resetting lever pivoted on the shank `and having anarm movable into engagement with said` shoulder;

4E. A ish grapple comprising a shank,

carrier movable lengthwiseofthe shank, a pair of jaws pivoted to the carrier, the jaws and the shanklhaving coacting means act-.j

ing to close the jaws when the carrier moves lengthwise `of the shankinone ldirection i l such movement, latching means for normally l i holding the jaws from closingmovement by a springtor caiisingthe carrier tovmake the spring, said latchingmeans havinga trip associated therewith` arranged to be operated by an object as afish betweenthe open jaws, a resetting member mounted; on the shank and arranged to coact with the carrierto move it inwardly lengthwise of,

the shank and `open the jaws into a position j to be engaged 'by the latch means and-a` spring for normally holding the` resetting` i member into a position along side theshank. 5. A lish grapple comprising a shanlna..

carrier movable lengthwise'of the shank, a pair of jaws pivotedto thecarrier, the jaws and the shank having coacting` means acting` to close `the jaws when the carrierimoves lengthwise ot the shank in one direction, `a

spring for causingl the carrier to make such movement, latching means for normally holding the jaws from closing movement by the spring, said latching means-having a trip associated therewith arranged to be operated by an object as a fish between the open jaws, the carrier havingashoulder on the outside of the shank, a resetting lever pi'vmoted` on` the shank and, havingan armi movable into engagement `with said shoulder, and a springacting on the resetting lever toliold it in a position along side the shank. 6. A fish grapple vcomprising a shank, 1a carrier movable along theishank, jaws pivoted to the carrier, means for moving the Y cai'rier in one direction to close thejaws and i in the `other direction to open the jaws, `means acting `on the carrier tomove it to open the jaws and a latch carriedby the shank and coacting them in o en position. v i i `LA fsi grapple comprising a shank, a.

with the "jaws ltohold isc carrier movable along the shank, jaws pivoted to the carrier, means for moving the ca'rrier in one direction to close the jaws and in the other direction to open the jaws, means acting on the carrier to move it to open the jaws, a latch carried by the shank and coacting with the jaws to hold them in open position, the latch being movable laterally relatively to the movement of the jaws.

8. A fish grapple comprising ,a shank, a carrier movable along the shank, jaws pivoted to the carrier, means for moving the carrier in one direction to close the jaws and in the other direction to open the jaws, means acting on the carrier to move it to open the jaws, a latch carried by the shank and coacting with the jaws to hold them in open position, the jaws Ahaving shoulders and a latch extending transversely of the end of the shank and coacting with said shoulders to hold the jaws in open position and a spring arm mounted at one end on the shank and carrying the latch at its other end.

9. A lish grapple comprising a tubular shank, a carrier movable in the shank, the shank being formed with diametrically opposite slots at its end, a pair of jaws having inclined portions extending through said slots and pivoted to the carrier, said inclined portions coacting with the end walls of the slots, a yspring arranged within the shank and connected to the carrier tending to move the carrier inwardlv into the shank and pull said inclined portions against the end walls of the slots and effect the closing of' the jaws and a latch for coacting with the jaws to hold them in open position and arranged to be tripped by an object as -a fish between the jaws. y

l0. A fish grapple comprising a tubular shank, a carrier movable in the shank, the shank being formed with diametrically opposite slots at its end, a pair of jaws having inclined portions extending through said slots and pivoted to the carrier, said in-y clined portions coacting with`the end walls of the slots, a spring arranged within the shank and connected to the carriertending to move the carrier inwardly into the shank and pull said inclined portions against the end walls of the slots and eect the closing of the jaws, a latch fork coactingwith the jaws to hold them in open position and arranged to be tripped by an object as a lfish between the jaws and a resetting member carried by the shank for moving the jaws to their position against the action of the spring acting on the carrier.

11. A fish grapple comprising a hollow shank, a carrier movablelengthwise of the shank vwithin the same, a pair of jaws pivoted to the carrier, a spring acting on the carrier to move it in one direction to close the jaws, the spring being located within the shank, the shank being also formed with lengthwise slots and the carrier with pins extending through ythe slots, a latch for holding the jaws in open position arranged to be tripped by an object asa fish between the jaws and a resetting lever pivoted on the shankand having arms arranged to engage said pins.

12, A fish grapple comprising a tubular shank, a carrier-movable in the shank, the

shank being formed with diametrically opposite slots at its end, a pair of jaws having inclined portions extending through said slots and pivoted to the carrier, said inclined portions coacting with the end walls of the slots, a spring arranged within the shank and connected to the carrier tending to move the carrier inwardly into the shank and pull said inclined portions against the end walls of` the slots and effect the closing of the jaws, a latch for coacting with the jaws to hold them in open position and arranged to be tripped by an object as a fish between the jaws and a resetting member carried by the shank for moving the'jaws to their position againstthe action of the spring acting on the carrier, the shank 'being also formed with lengthwise slots and the carrier with shoulders extending through the slots and the resetting. member being a lever pivoted on the outer' side of the shank and having an arm arranged to engage said shoulder.

13. A grapple comprising a shank, a carrier vmovable lengthwise of the shank, a pair of jaws pivoted to the carrier, the shank and the -jaws having coactingv surfaces arranged to lock the jaws in closed position when the carrier is moved to close the jaws, a spring acting on the carrier to so move it to close the jaws, a latch for holding the jaws open, and resettingl means.

14. A grapple ycomprising a hollow shank,

a carrier movable lengthwise kof the shank,

a pair of jaws pivoted to they carrier and having angular arms movable with the carrier into the shank, the jaws coacting at the` angle of the said angulararms with the shank when the jaws are closed to hold said yjaws closed, `a spring located in the shank for closing the jaws, a latch for holding the jaws open and resetting means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 2nd day of' August, 1926.

ALBERT E. GLESSALE` 

